
Aside from being among the oldest members of the California State University system, SDSU is also the first and largest college in San Diego, California. It is now a highly-regarded research university, having come a long way from starting as an institute for teacher training under the name San Diego Normal College in 1897. There are currently almost 200 fields of study being taken up by students throughout all undergraduate and graduate levels in all of its seven colleges, namely: Arts and Letters, Sciences, Engineering, Professional Studies and Fine Arts, Health and Human Services, Business Administration, and Education.
Enrollees at both the main and the Imperial Valley campuses are entitled to apply for opportunities to be part in any of over 300 educational programs in more than 50 countries all over the world. Possessing at least $1 billion worth of study grants, SDSU students are directed by its Division of Research Affairs in pursuing research activities in numerous fields such as public health, transportation safety, and computational science.
Recreation and athletics also play a great part of college life at SDSU. The San Diego State Aztecs have teams representing the school in basketball, baseball, football, soccer, among others. Celebrations on campus grounds are highlighted by Homecoming Week during the fall term. Spring term is marked by Green Fest, another week-long event that promotes environmental sustainability.
San Diego State maintains a huge role in emphasizing the importance of higher education among younger students in the surrounding communities. As a partner in the Compact for Success program, it assists the Sweetwater Union High School District in implementing courses that will prepare qualified students for admission to the university after graduation.
Admission Requirements & Details
The admissions information below may give an overview of the students San Diego State University accepts. The details may include admissions application requirements and recommendations, as well as any AP credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- Dual Credits
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
Total enrollment at San Diego State University is around 34,000 students, with undergraduate students making up about 85% of the total student population and graduate students making up the rest.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $14,000. In order to calculate a more accurate and detailed cost of attendance check out their cost calculator here. There is also a $55 application fee for those applying to a program. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Annual tuition range estimates:
- State Residents: $5,500-$6,600
- Out-of-State: $17,000-$19,960
Financial Aid Details
The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.
Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
---|---|---|
Any Financial Aid | 66% | - |
Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 58% | $6,927 |
Receiving Student Loans | 36% | $6,149 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To help students and alumni, San Diego State University may offer services including:- Online course work available
- Remedial courses
- Academic counseling for students
- Work study style employment
- Assisting students to find work
- Day care
Graduation Rates
San Diego State University has an overall graduation rate which is around 66%.
Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
---|---|
Students Graduating in 4 Years | 33% |
Graduating in 5 Years | 26% |
Graduating in 6 Years | 7% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Art and Design Program
- Clinical Audiology (Au.D.) Program
- Clinical Psychology (Ph.D.) Program
- Dietetics Program
- Health Services Administration Program
- Nurse Midwifery Education Program
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Program
- Nursing (MSN, DSN) Program
- Master's in Public Health (M.P.H.) Program
- Speech-Language Pathology Program
- Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Education Program
- Theatre Program
Intercollegiate Athletics
San Diego State University is a Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with many of the sports being in the NCAA Division I-A classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Baseball (Mountain West Conference)
- Basketball (Mountain West Conference)
- Track and Field (Mountain West Conference)
- Football (Mountain West Conference)
- Golf
- Rowing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.

Get more information about the programs offered by San Diego State University by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Architecture
- Urban Planning (M)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (B, D, M)
- Microbiology (B)
- Bioinformatics (M)
- Ecology (D)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (B, M)
- Hospitality Administration and Management (B, M)
- International Business (B)
- Accounting (C, M)
- Financial Planning (C)
- Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services (M)
- Human Resources (C)
Communications and Journalism
- Communications (B, M)
- Journalism (B)
- Radio and Television (B, M)
- Health Communication (B)
- International and Intercultural Communication (C)
Computer and Information Sciences
Construction Trades
Education
- Education (D, M)
- Early Childhood Education (B, C, M)
- ESL (C)
- Guidance Counselor (M)
- Educational Leadership and Administration (D)
- Multicultural Education (C)
- Adult and Continuing Education (C)
- Community College Education (C)
- Education, Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries (C)
- Educational and Instructional Media Design (C)
- Science Teacher (D)
- Curriculum and Instruction (D)
- Music Teacher Education
- Trade and Industrial Teacher Education
Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering (B, M)
- Civil Engineering (B, M)
- Electrical Engineering (B, M)
- Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (B, M)
- Computer Engineering (B, D)
- Software Engineering (C)
- Environmental and Environmental Health Engineering (B)
- Biomedical Engineering (M)
- Manufacturing Engineer (M)
- Structural Engineering (D)
Engineering Technology
- Construction Engineering Technology (B)
- Quality Control and Safety Technologies
English Language and Literature
- English (B, M)
- Creative Writing (M)
- Technical and Business Writing (C)
- Writing, General
- Rhetoric and Composition
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
- Women's Studies (B, M)
- Asian Studies (B)
- African-American Black Studies (B)
- Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American Studies (B)
- Native American Studies (B)
- Latin American Studies (B, M)
- European Civilization Studies (B)
- Ethnic and Cultural Minority Studies (B)
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Facilities Planning and Management (C)
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Spanish Language and Literature (B, M)
- Linguistics (B, M)
- Japanese Language and Literature (B)
- French Language and Literature (B)
- Classical Languages, Literatures and Linguistics (B)
- German Language and Literature (B)
- Linguistic and Comparative Language Studies and Services (C)
- Comparative Literature (B)
- Russian Language and Literature
Health and Clinical Professions
- Nursing (B, M)
- Health Services (B)
- Dietetics (B, M)
- Communication Disorders (B, D)
- Public Health (D, M)
- Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling (C, M)
- Speech and Language Pathology (C, M)
- Physical Therapy (D)
- Athletic Training (B)
- Audiology, Hearing Sciences (D)
- Health Physics (M)
- Occupational Therapy (C)
- Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences (C)
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (C)
History
- History (B, M)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Gerontology (B, M)
- Mathematics and Computer Science (D, M)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (B, M)
- General Studies (C)
- Humanistic Studies (B)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (B, M)
- Statistics (B, M)
- Applied Mathematics (M)
Natural Resources and Conservation
- Environmental Science (B)
- Environmental Studies (B, C)
Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Philosophy (B, M)
- Religious Studies (B)
- Jewish and Judaic Studies (B)
Physical Sciences
- Chemistry (B, D, M)
- Geology (B, M)
- Physics (B, M)
- Astronomy (B, M)
- Atomic, Molecular Physics (B)
- Physical Sciences
Psychology
- Psychology (B, M)
- Clinical Psychology (D)
- School Psychology (M)
- Applied Behavior Analysis (C)
Public Administration and Social Services
- Public Administration (B, M)
- Social Work (B, M)
Recreation and Fitness Studies
- Sports Medicine (B, M)
- Parks and Recreation (B)
- Kinesiology And Exercise Science (M)
- Health and Physical Education, Fitness (M)
Security and Protective Services
- Criminal Justice (B)
Social Sciences
- Economics (B, M)
- Sociology (B, M)
- Political Science (B, M)
- International Relations and National Security Studies (B)
- Social Science (B)
- Anthropology (B, M)
- National Security Policy Studies (M)
- Geography (B, D, M)
- Urban Studies (B)
- Criminology (M)
- International Relations
Visual and Performing Arts
- Art Studies (B, M)
- Drama and Theatre Arts (B, M)
- Music Performance (B, M)
- Fine Arts and Studio Arts (M)
- Dance (B)
- Music (B, M)
- Arts, Entertainment,And Media Management, General (C)
Other 4-Year Public Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to San Diego State University.
- University of California - San Diego in La Jolla, CA (12 miles away)
- California State University - San Marcos in San Marcos, CA (25 miles away)
- University of California - Irvine in Irvine, CA (75 miles away)
- Saginaw Valley State University in University Center, MI (77 miles away)
- University of California - Riverside in Riverside, CA (84 miles away)
See a list of all the colleges and universities by clicking on one of the links below:
- Compare schools and see a list of all colleges in California
- Browse our list of public colleges in California